Decibel presented its PORTAL exhibition at Milan’s Salone del Mobile 2025, featuring a 15-foot robotic arm that 3D printed furniture pieces daily in a former SNIA factory location. The exhibition was held in collaboration with Vizcom and Caracol at a new Alcova venue, where visitors could watch the printing process unfold against a backdrop of industrial decay and overgrown vegetation. Ten chairs were completed over the course of the event, each displayed on individual pedestals within the space.
The exhibition featured designs from eight designers and design studios, including Karim Rashid, noknok, Philippe Bietenholz, Willo, Brett Akop, Andrew Schainker, Deniz Aktay, and collaborator Charles Birshaw. All pieces were printed using recycled materials as part of Decibel’s focus on circular design principles. The chairs were positioned throughout the former factory space, creating what organizers described as a dialogue between the new furniture pieces and the deteriorating industrial environment.
“PORTAL is about breaking down barriers – between concept and creation, continents and collaborators,” says Adam Hecht, co-founder of Decibel. “With Vizcom and Caracol, we’re showing what’s possible when designers are empowered by access to technology.” Hecht emphasized that the company’s approach centers on building infrastructure for sustainable manufacturing rather than just facilitating individual designs.
Decibel operates as a small team without external investment, focusing on strategic partnerships across four key areas: designers, production partners, recycling and material engineers, and commercial customers. The company aims to create demand for sustainable products by connecting designers with manufacturers and promoting the use of recycled materials in additive manufacturing. The PORTAL exhibition represents part of this broader strategy to build what Hecht calls “smart systems that scale” in sustainable furniture production.
Source: design-milk.com